Rework Energy: rural energy foundation wants to raise awareness about the benefits of solar power in Africa.

Rework Energy: TaTEDO, the Tanzanian traditional energy development organization works to advance access to renewable energies in Tanzania.

TaTEDO

Rework Finance: the FSDT has been established to support Tanzania’s development of pro-poor financial markets.

FSDT

Rework Skills: Femina HIP is the civil society initiative behind the Fema magazine, the most popular magazine in Tanzania.

Femina HIP

Solar Aid, East Africa

John Keane is the Director of Programmes for Solar Aid. He is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; an inspiring young leader with ten years of experience in promoting solar energy in rural villages in Africa.

Solar Aid works in East Africa and South America, setting up production and assembly centres of solar technology, by importing basic solar panels and parts. It develops micro-solar products, such as portable lanterns and battery chargers, as well as installations in schools and hospitals.

Since inception in 2007, Solar-Aid has manufactured 10.000 micro-solar products in 4 production centres in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, employing over 40 local people in the production, assembly and the distribution process.

They have trained 150 entrepreneurs who have built their own small businesses by commercializing the products, and a micro-franchise is being put in place called “Sunny Money”, to quickly scale up the business. They aim to produce 30.000 units in 2009, and jump to 500.000 by 2010.

‘We are evolving towards a larger scale model’ says Solar Aid’s John Keane, ‘this requires a new distribution strategy and learning about other distribution networks and how we can tap them and work together with others.’

He points to the massive growth of the mobile phone market across Africa, and asks: how are all these phones going to be charged? ‘We need to generate new business opportunities for solar energy’ and mentions the pay-as-you-go model of “solar re-charging stations” being pioneered by Sunlabob in Laos, which sells hours of solar lighting to villagers who wish to recharge energy devices such as lanterns, mobile phones, or radios.

This can offer many opportunities to young people. To create the markets, there is a need to build distribution channels, to prepare a workforce with skills and training, and to accelerate innovation and sourcing of solar products.

Solar-Aid aims to replace all kerosene lamps in Africa by 2050. They have set up a joint venture with a London-based design company to design cutting-edge LED lamps to be sold for $5 a unit, which will be manufactured at large scale.

Solar Aid East Africa is part of the Tanzania Rework session